Protests at US refusal to free journalist

There is mounting anger at the US military's refusal to free a Reuters photojournalist - despite a release order by an Iraqi court. A military spokesman told Reuters that Ibrahim Jassam Mohammed would be freed after the end of the year, depending on his "threat level."

The U.S. has said in the past that it has the right to keep holding security detainees even if an Iraqi court orders them freed. A spokesperson repeated this explanation in a statement about why Jassam is still being held.

Major Neal Fisher said in an e-mail: "Though we appreciate the decision of the central criminal court of Iraq in the Jassam case, their decision does not negate the intelligence information that currently lists him as a threat to Iraq security and stability."

Reuters editor-in-chief David Schlesinger said: "I am disappointed he has not been released in accordance with the court order."

In a much more trenchant protest, the International Federation of Journalists "strongly condemned" the decision. It "makes a mockery of the coalition's handover of powers to Iraqi sovereign institutions," said Aidan White, IFJ general secretary. "The American military officials in Iraq should stop interfering with the Iraqi justice and free Ibrahim."

Jassam was arrested on September 2 at his home in Mahmudiya, about 20 miles south of Baghdad. His cameras were confiscated and he was arrested as a threat to security. Last month, Iraqi prosecutors asked the US military for evidence against Jassam. Receiving none, they ordered him to be freed. (Sources: Reuters/PDN/IFJ)